Avril Davidge, a 93-year-old grandmother from Swansea, Wales, has just returned from the trip of a lifetime – her first visit to the United States in three decades. The reason for her transatlantic journey? To witness the vibrant Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, an annual New Year’s Day celebration that Avril had become “obsessed” with after discovering it on YouTube.
Despite never having been to America before and not even owning a passport, Avril made the 3,400-mile trip with the help of her family to fulfil her dream of seeing the colourful parade in person. Greeted as a VIP, the “Welsh grandma” was treated to a warm welcome, receiving special treatment from the parade organisers and even making the front page of a local newspaper.
Avril first discovered the Mummers Parade two years ago, shortly after the death of her husband Clifford, with whom she had shared a love of marching bands. Watching the parade’s live stream online became a daily ritual, lifting her spirits more “than any doctor or medicine” as she adjusted to life without her husband of 70 years.
“When I saw it, I was really in love with it, that’s the only words I can think of,” Avril said. “Clifford would have loved the Mummers. It was his type of songs, he knew all the words to the old songs.”
Without Avril’s knowledge, her family began planning a trip to Philadelphia to make her dream a reality. After some initial reluctance about having her photograph taken for a passport, the 93-year-old was soon on a plane bound for the United States.
Upon arrival, Avril was treated like royalty, with parade organisers going out of their way to make her visit extra special. She was given a VIP tour of the Mummers Museum, met her favourite string band captain, Jimmy Good, and even learned how to do the Mummers strut.
“They were wonderful, the presents they gave, but not only that… they took time to speak to me,” Avril said. “To think they took time to speak to me, a grandma from Wales. I thought ‘why are they making a fuss of me’.”
Despite the cold weather, Avril refused to leave her spot until the 10-hour parade had finished, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by hot water bottles provided by her caring family.
“I couldn’t believe I was actually going, and I did and it was absolutely marvellous,” she said. “It was a dream, this isn’t happening to me.”
With her “Rocky Balboa strength”, the 93-year-old overcame some health issues in the weeks leading up to the trip to fulfil her lifelong ambition. Her journey has captured the hearts of people around the world, with Avril becoming known as the “Welsh grandma” online.
